Printers are great; however, they are restricted in their ability; that’s why we have multifunction printer devices. MFP devices do more than print text and images. MFP devices maintain your workplace running smoothly.
MFPs are all-in-one devices. They copy, scan and fax, and with the ideal document management software, they can also sort your paperwork.
Unlike standard printers, photocopier machines print using lasers and toner. This technique of printing gives you accurate images and text. With an included bonus, it is also cost-efficient. Toner can print more pages without changing the cartridge, reducing the page cost.
Not sure what kind of printer to buy for your office? Our article will help you choose the right office machine for your professional environment.
1. Laser Printers
Laser printers are commonly related to the huge copy machines of the 1980s that graced the silver screen in movies like Wall Street. Not so much the case anymore; they are trendy and can be found in various sizes.
These printers use accuracy lasers to glue toner to a light-sensitive intoxicated, which then applies the ink to your paper (or whatever medium you are printing onto). They are marketed as single-function units or multifunction laser printer and come in color and monochrome (black and white).
Their fast print rates make them a frequent choice in workplaces. They are also loved for their affordability per print because of their durable toner cartridges and massive month-to-month duty cycles.
They require a considerable initial cost, which commonly pushes away the home office customer; nevertheless, they will save you money over the long term, making the Total Cost of Ownership comparable to other device styles.
Pros: High-quality prints, fast print rates, low cost per print.
Cons: High initial expense, high energy usage.
2. Solid Ink Printers
The solid ink printer is comparable to the dye sublimation printer yet does have a couple of crucial differences. One of the essential differences is that it uses solid sticks of ink that would be most comparable to candle wax or crayons.
The second difference is that those wax sticks are heated into a fluid and splashed onto a print drum. It is the drum that presses the ink onto the paper.
Advantages: Reduced long-term expense, print quality, ease of use, and environment-friendly.
Disadvantages: Slow warm-up, high power usage, high initial cost.
3. Inkless Printers
Inkless printers are a more recent product to the print market, but the technology is comparable to that of the thermal printer. They utilize a unique paper embedded with colorless dye crystals between pairs of external layers.
When heated up by the print drum, the colorless crystals colorize to expose the printed picture.
Advantages: Multi-device compatibility, produces color photos anywhere.
Disadvantages: Battery life can be a factor, and prints are small.
4. Inkjet Printers
There is a lot of complexity in the market for inkjet printers. There are technically 3 categories of inkjet printers; we will discuss them generally. To ensure that you understand and can further check out the 3 if you decide inkjet is for you, the classifications are: thermal, piezoelectric, and continuous. All three work similarly; they spray various-sized liquid ink droplets via print head nozzles onto the paper (or print medium).
What can be essential to learn about inkjet printers is whether the one you purchase has a fixed print head or a disposable print head.
A fixed print head usually has a more precise spray and is built to last throughout the printer’s lifetime, which conserves customers’ cash because the ink is generally cheaper to change. Nevertheless, you usually need to buy a new printer if something fails with your print head.
A disposable print head usually means more expensive ink cartridge substitutes because you change the print head whenever you replace the ink.
Advantages: High-quality image output, vivid colors, easy to use, low initial expense.
Disadvantages: Higher cost per print, slow print speeds, print head clogs.
5. Thermal Printers
Thermal printers need thermochromic paper to operate and create images by heating the paper as it overlooks to generate a black imprint. You often see these printers as the receipt printers in retail service. While it is uncommon, some thermal printers can print red and black—most of them are monochromic (black only).
Like dye-sublimation printers, they are often portable.
Pros: Reduced long-term costs, no ink necessary.
Cons: No color choices, smearing dye.
6. LED Printers
Like the laser printer, the LED printer fuses toner (dry ink) to your paper (or another print medium) via heat. The critical distinction is the Light-Emitting Diode array that is used as opposed to precision lasers, as the printer toner is attached to the imaging drum or belt.
The complexity of this procedure is not as substantial as the laser printer, giving the LED printer an expense advantage. The LED printer is additionally more effective and reliable, though they do not have the very exact print resolution as a laser printer.
An LED printer requires a more significant initial financial investment than other designs, yet the expense per print is much less than most other available print technologies.
Advantages: Premium quality prints, quick print speeds, low cost per print.
Disadvantages: High preliminary expense, high power consumption.
7. Dye Sublimation Printers
Dye sublimation printers are not often seen in the marketplace. Due to their unusual printing method and impressive color options, these printers are commonly used as dedicated photo printers. In dye sublimation printing, a solid dye ribbon is heated until it turns into a gas, then spreads over the print medium in four layers.
The first three colors are colored; the fourth is a clear laminate that prevents prints from being destroyed by heat. A photo print can also last much longer with this method than with another printer.
As a result of their lack of ink spill worries and low energy consumption, these machines are excellent. A battery pack is sometimes included in new models to make them truly portable.
Advantages: A wide variety of colors, prints are ready to handle immediately, no ink clogs, and portability.
Disadvantages: Can only print on certain media; wasted ink and slow print speeds.
8. Multifunctional or All-in-one Printers
Most printer manufacturers offer these all-in-one printers today. These multifunctional printers are all-in-ones (AIO) in the consumer market and multifunctional printers (MFPs) in the business world.
In most cases, these virtual devices include three devices: a printer, a scanner, and a copier. Products are often equipped with faxing, photo-taking, and emailing capabilities.
Users prefer AIOs since they get three, four, or five devices for one or two. Using them allows desk space to be kept clear of clutter, and an office or home can be made more functional.
Pros: It offers the latest features, a choice of print technologies, and reduces gadget clutter.
Cons: The initial cost is high.
Trojan Technologies focuses on providing premium quality all-in-one printers for all of your office needs. Contact us for more!